Thursday, August 02, 2007

R 021430Z AUG 07 FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-00//TO ALCOAST BT UNCLAS //N05351// ALCOAST 378/07 COMDTNOTE 5351SUBJ: 2007-8 COAST GUARD READING LIST AND POLICY ON BOOK PURCHASES1. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF A NEW COAST GUARD READING LIST. SINCE BECOMING COMMANDANT, I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THE COAST GUARD OF THE 21ST CENTURY, A COAST GUARD THAT DEMANDS FORWARD LOOKING, ADAPTIVE, AND FLEXIBLE LEADERS, RESPONSIVE TO EMERGING CONCERNS AND TRENDS. BUILDING A COAST GUARD IS NOT LIMITED TO MODERNIZING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSFORMING THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHAIN OF COMMAND. IT MEANS BUILDING LEADERSHIP THAT WILL BEST POSITION THE SERVICE FOR TODAY AND THE FUTURE. IT MEANS CONTINUALLY ASSESSING OUR SKILLS AND BEING ENGAGED IN LIFELONG LEARNING REGARDLESS OF RANK OR TIME IN SERVICE. LIFELONG LEARNING IS ABOUT CHALLENGING YOURSELF THROUGH EXPOSURE TO DIFFERING PERSPECTIVES, NEW EXPERIENCES, AND EDUCATION. AS A LEADER, I CANNOT OVERSTATE THE VALUE OF READING IN TERMS OF LIFELONG LEARNING, PERSONAL GROWTH, AND INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT.2. THERE ARE 26 BOOKS ON THIS YEARS LIST, INCLUDING THOSE RECOMMENDED BY "LEADERS OF LEADERS," SOME ON COAST GUARD HISTORY AND CULTURE, AND OTHERS ABOUT LEADERSHIP AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES.MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION IS "THE CONTRARIANS GUIDE TO LEADERSHIP," BY STEVEN SAMPLE. IT IS A STRAIGHTFORWARD BOOK ABOUT HOW LEADERS CAN FREE THEMSELVES FROM THE SHACKLES OF CONVENTIONAL WISDOM.3. UNITS ARE AUTHORIZED TO PURCHASE THE BOOKS ON THE LIST FOR THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIBRARIES. ONE SET OF BOOKS COSTS APPROX 431 DOLLARS.4. IN ADDITION, FOUR BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING ON COMPUTERS VIA BOOKS 24X7, PART OF OUR CONTRACT WITH SKILLSOFT FOR E-LEARNING PRODUCTS. THE BOOKS AVAILABLE ARE: BLUE OCEAN STRATEGY, CRUCIAL CONFRONTATIONS, GETTING THEM TO GIVE A DAMN, AND POWER MENTORING.5. TO ACCESS BOOKS 24X7, REGISTERED USERS CAN GO TO HTTPS://USCG.SKILLPORT.COM. NEW USERS MUST USE A CG WORKSTATION FOR THEIR INITIAL REGISTRATION AND GO TO HTTP://CGWEB.TCYORKTOWN.USCG.MIL/SFWEB. ONCE LOGGED IN, CLICK ON "BOOKS 24X7."6. THE READING LIST AND OTHER LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT WWW.USCG.MIL/LEADERSHIP.7. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND A BOOK FOR THE NEXT READING LIST, CONTACT LYNNE DONAHUE, CG-133, LYNNE.M.DONAHUE(AT)USCG.MIL, TEL 202-475-5514.8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.9. ADM THAD ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.

A great list; we ought to have book reports in September during our San Diego meeting.

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